Anthony Perkins
1932 — 1992
New York, New York
Film actor famous for role in Hitchcock's "Psycho."
Anthony Perkins was born in New York City on April 4, 1932, the only son of Osgood and Janet Rane Perkins. Osgood died when Tony was 5 years old.
Tony worked in summer stock and college productions at Rollins college in Florida into his early twenties, in such shows as "My Sister Eileen" (he was one of the six future admirals), "Goodbye My Fancy" and "The Importance of Being Earnest."
In 1953, Tony headed to Hollywood and was cast in a supporting role in the George Cukor film "The Actress," alongside Spencer Tracy and Jean Simmons. He turned in a good performance, and his film career was on its way, or so he thought.
Despite favorable reviews for "The Actress," Hollywood didn't call on Tony again until 1956 for the William Wyler production "Friendly Persuasion." Tony, again in a supporting role, was cast as Gary Cooper's Quaker son. Tony later said of his co-star that he was one of the most helpful actors he ever worked with. Tony was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as "Josh," the young Quaker man, and this time his career was truly on its way.
Between 1957 and 1960, Tony made many film appearances, including
Fear Strikes Out" (which many people rate as his best performance in a movie besides "Psycho"), "Desire Under the Elms," "The Tin Star," "On the Beach," "Green Mansions," and "The Matchmaker." He also performed in numerous teleplays for such shows as The Kraft Theatre, Studio One, The Armstrong Circle Theatre, G. E. Theatre and The Goodyear TV.
"Psycho" (1960) was both a blessing and a curse for Tony. It is certainly his most noted film and the one he received the most recognition for, but it also — practically overnight and irreversibly — typecast him as highly unstable and "strange." Following "Psycho," there were no more romantic, comedic or heroic roles, except for three European films: "Goodbye Again" in 1961, "Phaedra" in 1962 and "The Ravishing Idiot" in 1964.
Between 1962 and 1972, Tony worked mostly in Europe, doing unusual projects like Chabrol's "The Champagne Murders," "Ten Days Wonder," and Orson Welles' "The Trial."
1972 found him back in the U.S., working in Frank Perry's "Play it as it Lays" and John Huston's "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean."
At a wrap party for "Play it as it Lays," Tony met his future wife, photographer Berry Berenson, and on August 9, 1973 they were married. They had two children, Osgood and Elvis, born two years apart.
Although his film work from 1973 to 1982 was generally uninspired (except for a truly memorable cameo in "Winter Kills," a satire loosely based on the Kennedy assassination conspiracies), he remained very active in New York and regional theater, directing productions of "The Wager," "The Gingerbread Lady," "The Voice of the Turtle" and "Don't Call Back." He also directed and starred in "Steambath" (1970), Bruce Jay Friedman's irreverent allegory about death and God.
In 1975, Tony was cast in the difficult and demanding role of Dr. Martin Dysart in John Dexter's Broadway production of Peter Shaffer's "Equus," to excellent reviews. He stayed with the production for almost two years (taking time out for the filming of "Mahogany" with Diana Ross). In November of 1979, he returned to Broadway and starred with Mia Farrow in Bernard Slades's play, "Romantic Comedy."
In 1983 came the resurrection of Norman Bates, when Tony filmed "Psycho 2," directed by Richard Franklin. It was a huge hit for Universal, proving that the public's favorite perception of Tony was that of a man with a knife in his hand. Tony seemed to realize this and, for the most part, accepted it. He went on to make "Psycho 3" and "Psycho 4," (1986 and 1990, respectively), along with horror films such as "Destroyer" (1988), "Edge of Sanity" (1989) and "Daughter of Darkness" (1990). He also did quite a bit of TV work during the 1970s and '80s, including "Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story" and "Ghost Writer" (1989), an unsold television pilot. In 1979, he did a brilliant turn as Inspector Javert in a television production of "Les Miserabeles."
Tony Perkins was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989 and kept his illness a closely-guarded secret, for fear no one would hire him. He very much wanted to provide as much as he could for his wife and sons. Despite his illness, he worked until the very end and did charity work for Project Angel Food, a nonprofit organization that provides meals for home-bound AIDS patients.
Shortly before his death on September 12, 1992, he issued the following statement: "There are many who believe this disease is God's vengeance. But I believe it was sent to teach people how to love and understand and have compassion for each other. I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cutthroat, competitive world in which I spent my life."
Tony Perkins died in his California home, attended by his family and friends. He was 60 years old.
Bio by The Anthony Perkins Tribute Page: http://www.geocities.com/oldhiway/tonyhome